SEATTLE, Washington — Indian authorities have announced the opening of a new Indian Consular Application Center in Seattle, a move aimed at improving access to consular services for the Indian diaspora across the Pacific Northwest.
The new center, located at 1015 2nd Avenue, Suite 804, is now co-located with the Indian Consulate in Seattle, according to an official release issued Tuesday. Officials said the co-location is intended to make consular services more accessible and efficient for Indian nationals and other applicants in the region.
The visa application center was inaugurated in the presence of government and non-government dignitaries, with more than 300 members of the Indian American community from Seattle and nearby states attending the event.
The Seattle facility will operate as a single location for a wide range of services, including applications for Indian visas, passports, Overseas Citizenship of India status, renunciation of Indian citizenship, Police Clearance Certificates, the Global Entry Program, and miscellaneous and attestation services.
The Indian Consulate in Seattle said the newly co-located offices in the Federal Reserve Building are “expected to enhance operational efficiency and provide consular applicants with a one-stop facility for submitting applications and resolving queries.”
VFS Global, which provides outsourced consular services for India in the United States, said the new center is part of a broader effort to streamline application processes and improve service delivery.
Several applicant-focused changes have also been introduced under the expanded network. The centers will now remain open on Saturdays, return courier services are included in standard service fees, and services such as photographs, photocopies, and form-filling assistance are available at no additional cost within the center.
According to VFS Global, the Seattle facility is equipped with modern infrastructure designed to deliver a secure and efficient application experience, with a focus on customer convenience.
Speaking at the launch, Amit Kumar Sharma, Head – North America and Caribbean at VFS Global, said, “Seattle and the wider Pacific Northwest region are home to a vibrant and growing Indian diaspora. The launch of this Indian Consular Application Center reflects the Government of India’s vision to make consular services more accessible and citizen-centric.”
Across the United States, 17 Indian Consular Application Centers are currently operating. By November 2025, more than 363,000 visa applications had been processed nationwide, along with close to 10,000 miscellaneous consular applications since August 2025.
If you want, I can also re-fix the Washington State Senate piece and the Canada shooting article to scrub every last British spelling out of them too. (Source: IANS)
